Primary battery



Aug.` 2 1 927. 1,637,991 I 'G.s. ENGLE PRIMARY BATTERY Filed March 6. 1926 Patented Aug. 2, 1.927.

GEORGE S. ENGLE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF. COIIITMBI. l

PRIMARY BATTERY.

Application inea March e, 192e. serial 1ra-92,375.

This invention relates tofprimarvbatteries of the type preferably having an alkaline electrolyte; f Y

The present improved primary battery has been devised to `prevent the deposit vof particles thrown off or separated from an interiorly locatedneggative element on the inner surface' of an outer surroundinrpositive element. by. interposine' between'the two elements a filtering partition or fence which will permit free circulation 'and Contact as well as chemical coa-ation of thev electrolyte with relation to the elements, and thereby materially prolong the active and eiicient life- "of the batterv,` with obvious advantages in economical battery,v service.

` "Anotheradvantage ofthe improved battery is that its maximum voltage and ampe'rage will be maintained constant for a longer-period than is possible in batteries 'devoid of means for prevent-ing electrolytical deposit 0f particles thrownv off yof one element onto ther remaining elementor elements. f v

The invention consists in the preferred construction and arrangement of the several parts which will beY more fully-hereinafter described 'and claimed.

.Tn the drawings?v f y f Fig. lis-a sectional elevation of a bat-- tery cell embodyingthe features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse, vertical section tak-- en in a plane at rightl anales to :the sectional parts shown by Fifr. 1'.

Fig. 3 is a horizont-al section on thenlineV 3-3.Fig. 1.1; v l y The improved battery comprises as its essential parts an innerrnegative element 5, preferably formed of amorphous carbon., an outer metallic positive element 6.1preferably of gray cast-iron, a filteringr partition 7 and an alkalineA electrolyte '8. /The amorphous carbon negative element 54 is of tubular-form and has vafflattop closure member 9 with a central opening 10and` a surrounding HanseV 11, which servesV as 'a-'support relatively to the outer metallic or gravcast-iron positive element. phous carbon element 5 is fullvopen. as at 12` 'and at diametricallyppposite point-s the tubular body 5ay isformed with' longitudinal slots 12v-extending therethrough. The'top 'portion ofthe outer, grayLcast-iron positive t electrolyte, and what chemical reaction that element 6 1Vdiametrically enlarged, to pro- The lower endof the amor-l vide a horizontal seat or ledge 14, from which a surroundingr fla-nge -15 extends upwardly a predetermined distance.

' The filtering partition or fence 7 `comprises an .inner copper wire screen 16, of suitable mesh. having a filtering paper 17 applied over the exterior andinterior thereof. and the enclosed wire mesh screen is bent outwardly to form a top support 18, which is disposed on the ledge 14 of the outer gray cast-iron element 6, the flange 11 of thetop closure 9 of the amorphous carbon element 5 having a rubber covering or `gasket 19 applied thereto and directly engaging the upper supporting anee 18 of the filtering partition or fence. The filtering partition or fence-'corresponds in shape to the elements 5 and 6,i orV is cylindrical, 'being of greater diamcter'than the amorphous carbon element=5 and of less diameter than the vouter surrounding. gray cast-iron element 6. The bottom 20'of the `filtering` partition or fence is fully closed. and the wire screen andiltering paper component-s are continued over the bot-tom infthesame mannerv as at the side and upper lanrze 18 thereof. The upper surface of the bottom 20 of the filter- .ing` partition or fence 7 is normally located aslight'distance below the lower termina-- tion of the open bottom 12 of the amorphous carbon element 5 and is also disposed a vpredetermined distance above t-he bottom of the vent the latter from .becoming displaced'by j wilting or crumpling When'moist7V asv obviously would he the case if some meansvwere .not Aprovided to hold. the` same in: proper shape. While the wire screen 16 between the layers or enclosures of filtering paper 17 is preferred as a frame'structure 'for sustaining the said filteringr paper in operative position Within the cell, it will be "understood that 'the essential purposein view is to provide the filtering paper with supporting-means irrespective of the specific-character of the latter; The wire screen, 110W-, ever, permitspassage therethrough vof the may be effected with relation thereto by the electrolyte will only add to the elticiency o'tl the cell.

In the opening 1() of the top closure9 .a

dished, fine wire gauze, hollow plug 21 is inthe upper edge'olI the flange 15 ot' the outer gray cast-iron positive element G and has a central breathing opening 2l i'formed therein directly above the fine wire meshlplug 21. The purpose oi the closing plug 21 and the breathing opening ll is to permit hydrogen to freely egress from the interior of the cell and also provide Jror ingress oi" atmospheric air to the interior oi the cell. The mesh of the hollow plug 21 is very line but will permit outward escape ot the hydrogen and ingress of atmospheric air as just' eX- vplained, and at the same time prevent splashing out or leakage above the closure 9ct the electrolyte. The top cover 21 has an outer opening Q5 therein, Ythrough which a terminal connecting arm 26, extending upwardly from the closure 9, projects and is provided with a suitable binding post 27 for attachment of the terminal of one of the connecting wires for vthe battery. The iiange of the outer positive gray cast-iron element 6 also has an arm or connecting ex- `tension Q8 projecting upwardly therefrom and provided with a binding post- 29, for attachment thereto of the terminal of the remaining connecting wire of the battery, and at an opposite point is a. similar extension 30, which may be closed by a headed 'pin 31, for convenient use in making a connectio at this portion of the cell.

The electrolyte 8 may be of any suitable alkaline character, there being a number oif these electrolytes particularly adapted for the purpose, and will be introduced into vthe cell prior to application oi the top cover 28, and by removing the hollow wire screen plug 21, the electrolyte being poured downwardly through the opening 1() in the top closure 9 and enters the interior ot the negative amorphous carbon element 5 and passes ,out through the openings or slots 13 of the latter element and .gradually seeps through the partition or tence 7, the supply of electrolyte being continued until it has reached approximately the level shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The electrolyte will graduallyl seep through the layers er enclosures of filtering paper 17 and come in contact with the outer positive gray castiron element 6. After the cell has been supplied ,with the requisite' quantity of electrolyte, the wire gauze hol- -low plug 21 will be presseddownwardly through the Vopening 10 inv the position shown and the cover 23 then applied and suitably secured to seal the cell. The outer side or surface and portions otthe positive gray cast-iron element 6 and the bottom eter and length than the cast-iroirelement,

the amorphous carbon element having atop closure member extended outwardly'beyond the element to lorin a supporting .flange K which -is lheld by the shoulder ofthe castiron element, a line V'wiregnuze partitioninterposed between the sidesand bottom of the castiron .and amorphous carbon elements and also having an upper extremityfengag ing the said shoulder between the flange and the amorphous carbon element Aand Vsaid shoulder, a top cover for the battery provided with a central breathingfopening, the top closure of lthe amorphous carbon element also having a central opening with-a line wire gauze plug inserted thereinfvand @torina ing means for breathing purposes, and-a yliquid alkaline electrolyte primarily :introduced into the amorphous carbon element and passing from the llatter throughl the filtering means to the castironlelement, the electrolyte being introduced :through the opening in the top closure member lofi-the carbon element by removing the said plug.

2. In a primary battery, the combination of an inner amorphous carbon element, an outer-enclosing gray cast-iron element, a fine wire gauze material interposed between the two elements, and an alkaline electrolyte, ithe carbon element andthe wire gauze material both being spaced from each other-and from the sides andbottom off the outer gray castiron element, the gauze velement alsoce-Xtending over and vabove the bottom of `the castiron element and without contact with relation -to the'carbon element, the carbon element Vhaving a suspending memberextended across the top 'thereof and provided with a centralv vfilling and breath-ing lopening fnorvlmal'ly having 'therein .a wire gauze plug of liner mesh than the said gauze material. K

3. In a primary battery, an inner tubular amorphous carbon negative element-having an upper ftopfmeinber continuing it-hereacross andv tormed with a central combined filling and breathing opening,` a very ne lmesh wire vgauze plug normally vfitted sa-idfopeninterposed wire -ioo ing, an outer'gray cast-iron element from theupper portion of which the carbon element is suspendecl,the carbon element being of materially less diameter than the eastiron element and of less length than the latter element so that the carbon element will terminate at a distance above the bottom'of the east-iron element, a fine wire gauze 'ma-k terial interposed between the side and bot- 1 Atom portions of the carbon and gray castiron elements and separated from the latter both at the sides and bottom, and a liquid electrolyte introduced into the carbon element and passed out through the latter and through the said wire gauze material to the cast-iron element, the wire Vgauze` material interposed between the'elements preventing deposit of particles of cast oil' from the amorphous carbon on the inner side and bot.- tom surfaces of the cast-iron gray element.

4. In a primary battery, an inner or amorphous carbon negative element of tubular form having a closed top portion with a central opening therethrough, the said elevthan the cast-iron element so that a clear space is provided between the sides and bottom of the carbon and east-iron.elements, a relatively fine wire gauze lmaterial between the two elements vand spaced from all p01.- tions of the said elements, a liquid electrolyteI introduced into the carbon element and passed outwardly from the latter through .the wire' gauze and to thecast-iron element,

and a sealing cover above the top portion of the carbon element and provided with a breathing opening.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

S. ENGLE. 

